And then they go and spoil it all for Gordon Haskell

THE combined lure of Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman proved too much for a former pub singer yesterday when Gordon Haskell was beaten to the Christmas No 1 spot.

The success of the pair's version of Somethin' Stupid, which also reached No 1 when it was performed by Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy in 1967, came despite tough competition from Haskell's How Wonderful You Are.

Robbie Williams's album Swing When Your Winning is also top of the album chart, making him the first act since the Spice Girls five years ago to have a double No 1 over Christmas.

He said: "I'm chuffed to bits. It's a fantastic result. A happy Christmas to everybody."

Haskell, 55, who composed his single during a shopping trip with his mother, said he was still "ecstatic" at his success.

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He said: "It doesn't matter to me that I'm not No 1. As long as the song has brought a little happiness."

Haskell, who has just signed a record deal with East West worth a reported £2.4 million, managed to outsell singles by Sir Cliff Richard and S Club 7. "There is still a chance that it will make it to the top spot next week," he said.

The singer and guitarist, who lives in Dorset, has been a musician all his life and has performed with Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix. But for the past 20 years he has been playing on the pub and club circuit.

His single How Wonderful You Are proved a success when it was taken up by the Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker and local stations across Britain.

He even made a last-gasp push to boost his record sales by busking in central London, although he raised less than £1 for his efforts.

He said: "I don't want to be a celebrity. I just love music and the money won't change me."

Gennaro Castaldo, a chart expert from HMV, said it was one of the closest races for the Christmas No 1 in years.

"Robbie had a lead of just a few thousand on Friday night which is very small given the amount of records sold in the final few days before Christmas.

"In the end his star quality made the difference, but Gordon may well make it to No 1in the next two weeks."